Make your own detachable peter pan collar!

I first had a go at making a detachable faux fur collar to go with this jacket. But it proved really very simple to make, and I think the possibilities for what you could do are endless. I'm quite tempted to make a little one in lace to wear over dresses and to dress up t-shirts!

I have tried to make these instructions clear for anyone who hasn't had much experience with sewing. I haven't really written a tutorial before, so if you would like me to clarify anything, just ask, or if you know of a better/easier way to do something, please let me know!

What you will need:

• Your chosen fabric. You won't need much! This is a good project for scrap fabrics, if you have a piece big enough. If you are buying your fabric, 30cm would be plenty.
• Backing fabric, if you want the underside to be of a different fabric from to top. I backed my fur one with satin, because I thought two layers of fur would be a bit thick.
• Ribbon to tie it with, or you could also fasten it with a button and loop.

Choosing/making a Pattern

I used the same pattern I had drafted for the jacket itself so that the fur would sit perfectly over the top, and if you already have a pattern for a dress or blouse etc. that features a peter pan collar you could just use a the pattern piece from that. Otherwise, there is a good tutorial for drafting a collar pattern here. Your pattern should look something like this:

Cutting Out

Here is an example of how to lay out your pattern piece on the fabric:


If you haven't had much experience sewing before, there are a few little things that are good to remember when you're cutting out a pattern piece:

• Does your pattern include seam allowances? If not, don't forget to cut some!
• Have you placed the pattern with the grain of the fabric running the right way? This was particularly important with my fur. You can (sort of?) see in the picture below that I cut it so that the grain will be running away from the neck.

Putting it all together

• Pin your cut two pieces together with right sides facing.
• If you are making a ribbon fastening, you can pin the two pieces in place now on the front of the collar, like this:

• Sew around the outside edge, being careful as you go not to sew over the ribbon anywhere other than where you pinned it. Leave a short gap unsewn.
• Snip the corners of the seam allowances a little, and cut little nicks into the seam allowances along the curved edges. This will help it to sit flat when you turn it the right way out.
  
• Now turn the collar the right way out through the gap you left. It should look like this:

• Now you just need to sew the hole closed by hand (use a slip stitch) and give it an iron. Your collar is ready to wear!

Next up, how to make the hat...

P.S. If anyone actually has a go at this and posts it on their blog/flickr etc. , please let me know! I'd love to see!